We study the effects of plants and root-associated fungi on wind erosion within the alpine environment of Tibet. China is one of the countries most affected by desertification processes and Tibet, in particular, a key region in desertification combat. The presented project focuses on the Barkha Plain surrounded by Mount Kailash and the Lake of Manasarovar (Ngari Prefecture). This Western Tibet region experienced little scientific attention but, nowadays, faces rapidly increasing touristic activities and expanding local settlements associated with socio-economic changes that are serious threats to the delicate ecological balance and potential triggers of desertification. It exists almost unanimous agreement that revegetation is the most efficient and promising strategy to combat wind erosion and desertification in the long term. However, re-colonising success is often poor, mainly under extreme environmental conditions. Compared to conventional practices, the approach of the presented project attains better accordance with natural succession processes and promises acceleration of both plant and soil development and, conclusively, more efficient desertification control. The project assesses the potential of native plants and symbiotic fungi to control wind erosion and desertification processes. It aims to identify key plants and fungi that increase soil aggregate stability and efficiently drive succession into a natural and self-maintaining cycle of the ecosystem. Furthermore, it provides crucial information for implementing environmentally compatible and cost-effective measures to protect high-elevation ecosystems against desertification. Within three successional stages (early, intermediate, late), field investigations are performed on the basis of Modified-Whittaker plots. Classic methods of vegetation analysis and myco-sociology are combined with analysis of distribution patterns at different scales (patchiness, connectivity). Comprehensive soil analysis is performed comprising grain size distribution, aggregate stability, pH as well as water and nutrient contents. Additionally, important parameters of wind erosion are measured concurrently and continuously to assess their magnitude and variability with respect to vegetation and soil at different levels of development. The parameters addressed, include sediment transport, air temperature, radiation, precipitation, relative humidity as well as speed and direction of wind. Surface moisture is recorded periodically and roughness described. Species and environmental parameters are checked for spatial correlation. Cutting edge technologies are applied in laboratory work, comprising molecular methods for fungal species identification and micro-tomography to analyse soil structure. Furthermore, successfully cultivated fungi and plants are subject of synthesis experiments and industrial propagation in view of practical implementation in restoration measures.
The CHAMP mission provided a great amount of geomagnetic data all over the globe from 2000 to 2010. Its dense data coverage has allowed us to build GRIMM - GFZ Reference Internal Magnetic Model - which has the highest ever resolution for the core field in both space and time. We have already modeled the fluid flow in the Earth's outer core by applying the diffusionless magnetic induction equation to the latest version of GRIMM, to find that the flow evolves on subdecadal timescales, with a remarkable correlation to the observed fluctuation of Earth rotation. These flow models corroborated the presence of six-year torsional oscillations in the outer core fluid. Torsional oscillation (TO) is a type of hydromagnetic wave, theoretically considered to form the most important element of decadal or subdecadal core dynamics. It consists of relative azimuthal rotations of rigid fluid annuli coaxial with the mantle's rotation and dynamically coupled with the mantle and inner core. In preceding works, the TOs have been studied by numerical simulations, either with full numerical dynamos, or solving eigenvalue problems ideally representing the TO system. While these studies drew insights about dynamical aspects of the modeled TOs, they did not directly take into account the observations of geomagnetic field and Earth rotation. Particularly, there have been no observation-based studies for the TO using satellite magnetic data or models. In the proposed project, we aim at revealing the subdecadal dynamics and energetics of the Earth's core-mantle system on the basis of satellite magnetic observations. To that end, we will carry out four work packages (1) to (4), for all of which we use GRIMM. (1) We perform timeseries analyses of core field and flow models, to carefully extract the signals from TOs at different latitudes. (2) We refine the conventional flow modeling scheme by parameterizing the magnetic diffusion at the core surface. Here, the diffusion term is reinstated in the magnetic induction equation, which is dynamically constrained by relating it to the Lorentz term in the Navier-stokes equation. (3) We develop a method to compute the electromagnetic core-mantle coupling torque on the core fluid annuli, whereby the energy dissipation due to the Joule heating is evaluated for each annulus. This analysis would provide insights on whether the Earth's TOs are free or forced oscillations. (4) Bringing together physical implications and computational tools obtained by (1) to (3), we finally construct a dynamical model for the Earth's TOs and core-mantle coupling such that they are consistent with GRIMM and Earth rotation observation. This modeling is unique in that the force balances concerning the TOs are investigated in time domain, as well as that the modeling also aims at improving the observation-based core flow model by considering the core dynamics.
Prehistoric pits are filled with ancient topsoil material, which has been preserved there over millennia. A characteristic of these pit fillings is that their colour is different depending on the time the soil material was relocated. Soil colour is the result of soil forming processes and soil properties, and it could therefore indicate the soil characteristics present during that specific period. To the best of our knowledge, no investigation analysed and explained the reasons for these soil colour changes over time. The proposed project will investigate soil parameters from pit fillings of different archaeological periods in the loess area of the Lower Rhine Basin (NW-Germany). It aims to implement the measurement of colour spectra as a novel analytical tool for the rapid analyses of a high number of soil samples: the main goal is to relate highresolution colour data measured by a spectrophotometer to soil parameters that were analysed by conventional pedogenic methods and by mid infrared spectroscopy (MIRS), with a main focus on charred organic matter (BPCAs). This tool would enable us to quantify the variation of soil properties over a timescale of several millennia, during different prehistoric periods at regional scale and for loess soils in general. Detailed information concerning changing soil properties on a regional scale is necessary to determine past soil quality and it helps to increase our understanding of prehistoric soil cultivation practices. Furthermore, these information could also help to increase our understanding about agricultural systems in different archaeological periods.
The sorption of anions in geotechnical multibarrier systems of planned high level waste repositories (HLWR) and of non-ionic and organic pollutants in conventional waste disposals are in the center of recent research. In aquatic systems, persistent radionuclides such as 79Se, 99Tc, 129I exist in a form of anions. There is strongly increasing need to find materials with high sorption capacities for such pollutants. Specific requirements on barrier materials are long-term stability of adsorbent under various conditions such as T > 100 C, varying hydrostatic pressure, and the presence of competing ions. Organo-clays are capable to sorb high amounts of cations, anions and non-polar molecules simultaneously having selectivity for certain ions. This project is proposed to improve the understanding of sorption and desorption processes in organo-clays. Additionally, the modification of material properties under varying chemical and thermal conditions will be determined by performing diffusion and advection experiments. Changes by sorption and diffusion will be analyzed by determining surface charge and contact angles. Molecular simulations on models of organo-clays will be conducted in an accord with experiments with aim to understand and analyze experimental results. The computational part of the project will profit from the collaboration of German partner with the group in Vienna, which has a long standing experience in a modeling of clay minerals.
Research question: Agri-environment schemes play an increasingly important role in European CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) to support biodiversity and environment in agricultural landscapes. They have been implemented since 1992 and now cost a yearly 1.7 billion Euro. Still, there is no conclusive evidence that these schemes actually do contribute to the conservation of particularly biodiversity. The primary objective of this project is to evaluate the (cost-) effectiveness of European agri-environment schemes in protecting biodiversity and to determine the primary processes that determine their effectiveness. This project furthermore aims to determine how CAP may be introduced in candidate EU-members without unacceptable loss of biodiversity. It will provide simple guidelines how researchers, governmental authorities may efficiently evaluate agri-environmental measures. Aim: Agri-environment schemes have been used to protect biodiversity and environment in agricultural areas since 1992. Their effectiveness has never been reliably evaluated. This project aims to evaluate the (cost-)effectiveness of agri-environment schemes with respect to biodiversity conservation in five European countries. It will determine the proper scales that have to be addressed for conservation efforts for a range of species groups. It will determine the most important environmental factors that influence the effectiveness of the schemes. Based on this, recommendations will be made how the effectiveness of schemes may be improved and simple guidelines will be produced how ecological effects of agri-environment schemes can be evaluated efficiently by governmental authorities or other institutions. The ecological effects of the introduction of CAP in a candidate EU-member will be investigated to reduce negative side effects of anticipated land-use changes Scientific methods: We will examine the effectiveness of agri-environment schemes by surveying pairs of fields: a field with an agri-environment scheme and a nearby field that is conventionally managed. In five countries, in each country in three areas, and in each area on seven pairs of fields the species richness of birds, plants and three insect groups (pollinators, herbivores, predators) will be determined. Effects of schemes on pollination efficiency and pest control will be examined using indicator communities. Correlative studies will examine the effects of landscape structure, land-use intensity and species pool on the effectiveness of agri-environmental measures. The spatial scale that is relevant to nature conservation efforts will be investigated via the spatial distribution of species groups. The results will be used to formulate recommendations how to improve the effectiveness of agri-environment schemes and to construct a set of simple guidelines how schemes can be evaluated efficiently yet reliably.
The baking industry includes companies that make value added products including bread, buns, rolls, doughs, desserts, crusts, pastas, cookies, biscuits, crackers etc. that are either baked or frozen. The use of refrigeration technology has made a bakery's location independent of its customers, thereby broadening the geographic market potential and contributing to the growth of this sector. However, this development does have a cost. Bakeries are energy intensive, using large amounts of electricity and natural gas to operate the refrigeration system, compressed air system and ovens. These energy costs are rising and becoming a significant portion of the ingredient costs of baked goods. About 10Prozent of the total electrical and thermal energy consumption of all craft enterprises originates from the bakery sector. Accordingly there are many possibilities for energy reduction and therefore to permanently reduce the costs for the enterprises and thus to make a sustainable contribution to climate protection. Making changes in the energy use patterns of bakeries would be the fastest way to affect the energy profile of bread, because bakery is responsible for 70 and 80Prozent of the total energy consumption in conventional and organic bread production, respectively. Overall aim of the NanoBAK-Collaborative Project is the efficient energy management in the baking industry. Specific aim of this project is the development and demonstration of a novel marketable climatic chamber with an innovative, energy-saving nano-aerosol humidification system. Lab tests have shown that the energy consumption using ultrasonic humidification is significantly lower than for conventional humidification. The innovative ultrasonic humidification of the NanoBAK Project saves up to 50Prozent of energy compared to conventional humidifiers. Furthermore the quality of the bakery goods is of high value, so that the ultrasonic humidifier is profitable both energetically and qualitative.
Nitritation combined with anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) has been widely applied in treatment of high nitrogenous wastewaters since its discovery in the 1990s. This process is more cost efficient than conventional treatment technologies and has been studied intensively for municipal reject water or centrate treatment. Due to the slow growth rate of the involved microorganisms systems with high biomass retention such as biofilm reactors or granular based sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) are often employed. The current applications of nitritation-anammox processes are confined to wastewaters with ammonium concentrations of greater than 500 mg-N l-1 and temperatures around 30 C. Complete nitrogen removal without the need for organic carbon and in addition less energy consumption is, however, also highly interesting for mainstream municipal wastewater treatment. The main goal of this project is thus to realize the application of nitritation-anammox at low temperature/low substrate conditions with two different reactor types, SBR (suspended sludge system) and MBBR (biofilm reactor system). The key questions are the stabilization of the anammox reaction under these conditions on the one side and the minimization of unwanted nitrite oxidation on the other side. Stepwise reduction of ammonium loading and temperature will be used to acclimate the biomass to the desired condition. Oxygen limitation strategies and pH control will be applied as main regulatory instruments to sustain an optimal biomass composition and limit aerobic nitrite oxidation.
In the Amazon, in excess of three cubic metres of roundwood are used for the production of every cubic metre of sawn timber. More efficient timber harvesting and processing could lead to a drastic reduction in the timber exploited from affected sites and at the same timber improve profit margins. Many concerns are not aware of this potential, however, as the collection and analysis of production data is practically unheard of in the Amazon timber industry. Against this background, the project captured production and cost data of 5 forest enterprises in the state of Pará, Brazil. This study resulted in urgently needed information about costs of forest management in the Amazon. Most important result was that harvesting costs depend mainly on the professionalism of the enterprise management, while the applied technologies (Reduced Impact Logging - RIL or conventional) play only a minor role. The implementation of RIL, however, causes a strong increase of fix costs, which enhance the requirements to the enterprise management. There is no doubt that only very few Amazonian enterprises dispose on this managerial capabilities.
Soil erosion is a major threat to the resource soil. Loss of topsoil as well as deposition of eroded material affect all functions a soil has to fulfill including soil productivity, filtering, buffering, de-grading and detoxifying. In 1994 a field experiment started at three locations in Lower Austria to investigate the effect of different tillage practices on crop yield, surface runoff, soil erosion, and nutrient and pesticide losses. The tillage practices include 1) conventional tillage, 2) conservation tillage with cover crop, and 3) no-till with cover crop. Eight years after initiation of this field study this project will investigate the impact of these tillage practices on soil quality. Overall objectives of this study are 1) to collect data to evaluate best management practices (BMP) for Austrian farming conditions, 2) to investigate the effect of conventional tillage, conservation tillage and no-till on soil physical, chemical and biological properties, 3) to investigate temporal and spatial variability of soil properties induced by soil management along a slope, and 3) to collect data to evaluate best management practices for Austrian conditions. The study design of the erosion measurements consists of 4 m wide and 15 m long runoff plots for each management variation. Inclination of hillslopes varies between 6 and 16 percent. Runoff and sediments are collected for each erosive rain storm event with an automated measuring device. Nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) and pesticide losses associated with runoff and sediment are determined. To asses long-term effects of soil tillage/management on soil quality undisturbed and disturbed soil samples are taken at all three sites in different soil depths over the root zone and main physi-cal, chemical and biological soil properties are investigated. To investigate the effect of time and location along the hillslope on soil quality, three slope positions (summit, middle slope, footslope) are selected at each site. Soil moisture and soil tension are measured in weekly intervals to invest-igate possible differences in hydrologic condition. Soil samples are taken in appr. 4 weeks intervals and some physical, chemical and biological soil parameters are investigated. Crop yields are determined for each hillslope position. Improved soil physical, chemical and biological properties upgrade the ability of a soil to fulfill all functions like productivity, storage, filtering and buffering aso. Increased soil quality reduces also environmental risks like contamination of surface and groundwater bodies with nutrients or contaminants. The results of this project will also provide data for evaluation of BMPs and information about sensitive areas in watersheds with respect to groundwater contamination.
Mit dem bei der FNR eingereichten Vorhaben will der 'Fachverband Strohballenbau Deutschland e.V.' (FASBA) für die Strohbauweise in Deutschland einen klaren Bezugsrahmen für die Anwender erarbeiten. Das Bauen mit Stroh soll eine attraktive, wählbare und technisch sichere Alternative zu herkömmlichen Bauweisen werden. Das Vorhaben ist in zwei Arbeitspakete untergliedert. Zum einen soll die bestehende allgemeine bauaufsichtliche Zulassung so erweitert werden, dass die Vermarktungsfähigkeit der Bauweise verbessert und der Anwendungsbereich dieses nachwachsenden Rohstoffes durch eine direktverputzte Bauweise deutlich erweitert werden kann. Die Optimierung des Herstellungsprozesses und der Qualitätssicherung wird als Voraussetzung für die Erweiterung der Zulassung dienen. Zum anderen soll die Ausarbeitung einer Strohbaurichtlinie die fachgerechte Umsetzung in der Fläche ermöglichen und die Grundlage einer fachgerechten Ausbildung bilden. Im Ergebnis wird sich die Vermarktbarkeit dieser Bauweise erheblich verbessern und sie wird das Rückgrat der Akteure stärken.
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